Mental Game Skills for Skating Success
One of the most, if not the most important mental skill on or off the ice, is to be in the moment.
When an athlete or a performer is totally absorbed in what they are doing, this is when creativity flows. This can lead to unforgettable performances.
Listen to the audio version: here
It’s been 6 weeks (including spring break) off the ice for our part of the world.
6 weeks without training.
What about you? How long has it been since you’ve been on the ice, training your “old normal” way?
Is skating still a priority? Is it still important? Continue reading “5 Steps to Maximize Your Training When the Rinks are Closed”
You are working on your loop jump with your coach, but you are having trouble landing it. Your coach gives you the same correction that you’ve been working on for the past few weeks – you need to check your left side on the takeoff, don’t let the left side open up.
You know this is a problem, and you have been working on it, but it’s not easy to do this consistently. You really want to get this jump; you are so close.
Skatergirl gets on the ice and starts warming up.
Maybe the ice is extra chilly because today, because it seems like it takes forever to warm up. She has to do repetition after repetition before even she lands a jump.
First she tries doing double Axel…fall. She thinks, “This is bad, I should do it again.” But instead, pops it and gets frustrated.
Okay, no problem. Move on to triple Sal.
Continue reading “How to Deal With Bad Jump Days”The “Off Season” in skating is a misnomer.
After the last competition of the season, a new season starts. What “Off Season” really means for skaters is that it is time to “Work Smarter and Harder” to prepare for the next competition season.
When we think about the concept of off season, we probably relate it to familiar concepts. In this case we are most familiar with sports like soccer, football or baseball. Continue reading “Skaters Nail New Skills in Off Season Practice”
Do you have a plan for your daily on-ice practice time?
If you have a plan, is it an effective practice plan, one that will take you towards reaching your goal?
Here are some symptoms that you either don’t have your goal in mind or that your practice plan is not one that will focus your energies towards your goal:
Your coach often talks to you about not working hard enough, that they, “Don’t want to see you standing on the ice doing nothing, so get busy and work”.
You think, “I am working, I already did everything on my list, what do I do now?” Continue reading “5 Steps to a Practice Plan That Works”